Defensive end Trevardo Williams, right, is measured by Carolina Panthers scout Robert Haines during UConn's NFL football pro day in Storrs, Conn., Wednesday, March 27, 2013. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

Photo: Jessica Hill, Associated Press

Defensive end Trevardo Williams, right, is measured by Carolina...

Defensive end Trevardo Williams runs a drill in a workout during Connecticut's NFL football pro day in Storrs, Conn., Wednesday, March 27, 2013. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

Photo: Jessica Hill, Associated Press

Defensive end Trevardo Williams runs a drill in a workout during...

UConn defensive end Trevardo Williams speaks to the media at UConn's NFL football pro day in Storrs, Conn., Wednesday, March 27, 2013. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

Photo: Jessica Hill, Associated Press

UConn defensive end Trevardo Williams speaks to the media at...

Senior Bowl North Squad linebacker Trevardo Williams of Connecticut (46) looks for to the sidelines in the first quarter of the Senior Bowl College football game at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala., Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013 (AP Photo/G.M. Andrews)

Senior Bowl South Squad fullback Tommy Bohanon of Wake Forest (42) ties to fight off the tackle of North Squad linebacker Trevardo Williams of Connecticut (46) after making a catch in the second quarter of the Senior Bowl College football game at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala., Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013. (AP Photo/G.M. Andrews)

Photo: G.M. Andrews, Associated Press

Senior Bowl South Squad fullback Tommy Bohanon of Wake Forest (42)...

Connecticut defensive end Trevardo Williams (48) tries to block a pass by Rutgers quarterback Gary Nova during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Piscataway, N.J., Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

Photo: Mel Evans, Associated Press

Connecticut defensive end Trevardo Williams (48) tries to block a...

Maryland quarterback Perry Hills (11) is tackled by Connecticut's Yawin Smallwood, top right, and Trevardo Williams in the second half of an NCAA college football game in College Park, Md., Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012. Connecticut won 24-21. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

Photo: Patrick Semansky, Associated Press

Maryland quarterback Perry Hills (11) is tackled by Connecticut's...

Connecticut defensive end Trevardo Williams speaks with a television crew during the Big East Conference NCAA college football media day, Tuesday, July 31, 2012, Newport, R.I. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)

Connecticut defensive end Trevardo Williams speaks with a...

Connecticut's Sio Moore, center, laughs as he walks with teammates Blidi Wreh-Wilson, left, and Trevardo Williams, right, to meet a photographer during an NCAA college football media day in Storrs, Conn., Friday, Aug. 10, 2012. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

Connecticut's Sio Moore, center, laughs as he walks with teammates...

Connecticut's Trevardo Williams, left, sacks Rutgers quarterback Gary Nova during the second half of Connecticut's 40-22 victory in an NCAA college football game in East Hartford, Conn., on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2011. (AP Photo/Fred Beckham)

After a long night Friday patiently waiting for a phone call that never came, Trevardo Williams was hoping that the wait would not be so long on Saturday in realizing his dream of being selected in the NFL draft.

That special phone call came about 90 minutes into the fourth round, with the Houston Texans selecting Williams, the former Central High School star, with the round's 27th pick (124th overall).

"I'm thrilled. I'm ready to show the world what I'm capable of," said Williams, a defense end with UConn. "I've been working for this moment for the past eight years and feeling this way for the past eight years. I can't wait. I'm thrilled, I'm ecstatic and I can't wait to prove myself."

Unofficially, Trevardo Williams became the 10th Bridgeport high school player selected in the NFL draft and the first since Harding's Mike Jones was taken by the Minnesota Vikings in 1990.

"I'm proud as hell of him," said Tom Taylor, Williams' former coach at Canterbury Prep, where Williams watched the draft Saturday. "We had been told for quite a while that it would likely happen in the third or fourth round, the third (round) would have been nice, but we're thrilled.

"Houston is a great organization. I'm absolutely thrilled for him. I know he's going to go out there and do a great job."

UConn had three players selected in the third round Friday, with cornerback Dwayne Gratz (64th overall) being selected by Jacksonville, linebacker Sio Moore (66th) being chosen by Oakland and cornerback Blidi Wreh-Wilson (70th) taken by Tennessee.

"This is great for Connecticut, we don't always get a lot of shine," said Williams' former Central teammate Christon Gill, currently a sophomore safety at Western Carolina University. "He was always one of those guys with incredible athletic ability and was always focused on what he wanted to do."

Williams left UConn as the Huskies' all-time leader in sacks with 30½, breaking the mark of 27 set by Mark Michaels from 1982-85. Last season, he recorded 11½ sacks, including three against Louisville in a 23-20 triple-overtime win. He also posted 43 tackles, 13½ tackles for loss and forced a fumble.

Career-wise, Williams finished with 134 tackles, 40½ tackles for loss and five forced fumbles. He's hoping to produce those same kinds of numbers with the Texans.

"I'm going to bring what I have," Williams said. "I have the skills, the technique, the agility, the ability to learn quick, and just having the athleticism and the competitiveness all-around. I have everything to give."

At the NFL scouting combine in February, Williams ran the 40-yard dash in 4.57 seconds -- fastest among all 37 linemen/linebackers -- and bench-pressed 225 pounds 30 times. He also recorded a 38-inch vertical leap and a 10-4 broad jump, all earning "top performer" accolades.

And while Williams' admitted that being drafted by the Texans "was a surprise," he feels we can do down there and start contributing right away.

"I think my numbers over the regular season and my performance at the combines speaks a lot for what I can do," Williams said. "I'm really excited about the transition (to linebacker). As an athlete, I can't wait for the chance to basically show them my skills and my potential."

Williams' potential began back at Central, where he posted 24 sacks in three seasons for the Hilltoppers and was a two-time, first-team All-FCIAC performer.

"I remember in high school where I think he had like seven sacks in one game in our junior year, it was unbelievable," said Ramon Mignott, a former Central teammate and current Hilltoppers assistant coach. "He had so much talent. He was fast and big with lots of potential. Every time we'd ask him, `What do you want to do?' He'd say, `Play football.'"